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How much does plug-in solar cost?
Prices checked 2026-10-17.
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In October 2026 a plug-in solar kit sold in the US costs about $285 to $1,600: $285 to $414 for Bright Saver's 180 to 360 W member kits, roughly $700 to $1,000 for an 800 W kit built around an APsystems or Hoymiles microinverter, and about $1,600 for Craftstrom's 800 W kit. That is $1.23 to $2.50 per DC watt. There is no federal tax credit for 2026 purchases, and no state rebate exists for plug-in kits. Typical payback is 3 to 8 years depending on your electricity rate.
Key facts - Cheapest per watt on the market: Bright Saver 360 W at $414.17 for members ($1.15/W, plus a $29/yr membership), or $699 for non-members.
- A microinverter-only route (APsystems EZ1-LV, about $325) plus two 400 to 450 W panels and a rail mount typically lands around $700 to $1,000.
- Europe pays about $533 for an 800 W kit; US prices are 2 to 3 times higher because of certification, low volume and 120 V hardware.
- The federal 25D credit ended for installations after December 31, 2025 (OBBBA §70506); it does not apply to 2026 kits even if prepaid.
- Published payback examples range from 1.6 years (San Diego rates) to 7 to 10 years (North Dakota-level rates).
Kit prices by brand (US, dated)
| Kit | Panels DC | Inverter AC | Price | $ per W | Status |
|---|
EcoFlow
STREAM Ultra | 2000 W | 1200 W | $1,279
2026-08-15 | $0.64 | Sold out |
PluggedSolar
800 W plug-in kit | 800 W | 800 W | $699
2026-06-16 | $0.87 | Unclear |
BigBlue
POWAFREE Balcony Solar H1 (R800 + C2500) | 800 W | 800 W | $699.99
2026-05-18 | $0.87 | Unclear |
Santan Solar
APsystems EZ1-LV 1,800W Plug-In Kit (4 x 450 W + EG4 BrightMount + zero-export meter) | 1800 W | 900 W | $1,600
undated listing | $0.89 | Unclear |
Bright Saver
360 W Plug-in Solar Kit | 360 W | 360 W | $414.17
2026-07-13 | $1.15 | Pre-order |
US Solar Supplier
810W Balcony / Plug-In Kit (Runergy 405 W x2 + APsystems EZ1-LV) | 810 W | 900 W | $969
2026-05-18 | $1.20 | Sold out |
Bright Saver
180 W Plug-in Solar Kit | 180 W | 180 W | $285.3
2026-07-13 | $1.58 | Pre-order |
Craftstrom
1200 Watt Eco-Line | 1200 W | 1200 W | $2,250
2026-10-17 | $1.88 | Available |
Craftstrom
800 Watt Eco-Line Plug & Play Solar Kit | 800 W | 700 W | $1,593.75
2026-08-15 | $1.99 | Available |
Craftstrom
1600 Watt Premium Kit (bifacial) | 1600 W | 1600 W | $4,064
2026-10-17 | $2.54 | Available |
Mango Power
Mango Power S PIPV 1200W Kit | 1200 W | 1120 W | $3,799
undated listing | $3.17 | Pre-order |
Craftstrom
2kW Solar + 3kWh Battery Plug-In Kit | 2000 W | 2000 W | $8,199
2026-10-17 | $4.10 | Available |
Full specs, certification and sources on the comparison page. Bright Saver member prices shown; non-member prices are $499 (180 W) and $699 (360 W).
What else you pay for
- Mounting. Railing brackets, a tilt stand or a ground frame. Often included in a kit; bought separately, budget roughly $50 to $200.
- A dedicated circuit, if your kit is over about 400 W. An electrician adds a 20 A outdoor GFCI circuit. Cost varies widely with the distance to your panel and local labor rates; get a quote. In Maine this is required by law above 420 W.
- A plug-in energy meter ($20 to $60) if the kit has no app. Without one you are guessing at output.
- Membership ($29 a year) for Bright Saver's member prices.
- Battery ($500 to $1,300) if you want evening use or outage backup. See the kit comparison for battery-integrated options.
Why US kits cost 2 to 3 times what Germans pay
An 800 W balcony kit in Germany sells for about $533 because 230 V hardware ships in the millions and the 800 W rule is uniform nationwide. US kits need 120 V microinverters, UL certification that only became available in January 2026, and are sold in tiny volumes into a patchwork of state rules. Expect prices to fall after California's law takes effect on January 1, 2027 and the big European brands launch US versions.
Payback for an 800 W kit at $900
Same model as our calculator: vertical balcony mount (about 30% below an ideal tilt), 85% of output used on site, state average residential rate from EIA (July 2026).
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Yearly kWh used | Yearly savings | Simple payback |
|---|
| California | 33.61 | 762 | $256 | 3.5 years |
|---|
| Texas | 15.88 | 714 | $113 | 7.9 years |
|---|
| Colorado | 17 | 738 | $125 | 7.2 years |
|---|
| New Jersey | 25.19 | 643 | $162 | 5.6 years |
|---|
| Florida | 15.03 | 690 | $104 | 8.7 years |
|---|
| Utah | 13.12 | 738 | $97 | 9.3 years |
|---|
Tilting the panels toward the sun instead of hanging them flat on a railing raises output by roughly 30 to 40%, which is the cheapest payback improvement available. A kit that costs $300 less matters more than one that is rated 100 W higher.
No federal credit, and (so far) no state rebates
The 30% residential clean energy credit was eliminated for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Any 2026 purchase is full price. We have not found a state or utility rebate written for plug-in kits; a few states exempt solar equipment from sales tax, but whether a plug-in kit qualifies is unverified. Several state laws (California, New Jersey, New Hampshire) also exclude plug-in systems from net metering, so there is no payment for exported power either: the savings come entirely from using what you make.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a federal tax credit for plug-in solar?
Not anymore. The residential clean energy credit (section 25D) ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the 2025 federal tax law. A kit bought in 2026 gets no federal credit regardless of what a seller says.
Are there state rebates for plug-in kits?
We have not found a single US state or utility rebate written for plug-in kits as of October 2026. Some states exempt solar equipment from sales tax; whether that covers a plug-in kit is unverified state by state. Check your state page.
Why is Bright Saver so much cheaper per watt?
It is a nonprofit selling at roughly wholesale cost to members ($29 a year). Its 360 W kit is about $414 for members, $699 otherwise. The trade-off is a small system and no shipping to Maine, New York or Vermont, which require whole-system certification.
Is a bigger kit always a better deal?
Not past your state's cap. Craftstrom's 1,600 W and 2,000 W kits look cheaper per watt but exceed the 1,200 W cap in every enacted state except Colorado (1,920 W), need a dedicated circuit and usually an electrician, and can be treated by a utility as a normal interconnection.
Do I need a battery?
Usually not for savings. A home that is occupied in the daytime uses most of the output as it is made. A battery lifts self-consumption from roughly 60% to 90% but adds $500 to $1,300 and wears out in 10 to 15 years, which stretches payback. It is worth it if you want outage backup or are away all day.